Transcript Warm-Up - West Clark Community Schools

Bellringer
• What are some of the major waterways that
surround the Fertile Crescent? (Map on page
28)
Fertile Crescent Map
• Draw a map of the Fertile Crescent using the
majority of the page give to you in pencil
• Label the rivers, Seas, and other landforms
• Leave room for the Key
• Once everything is labeled, show me your map
and I will give you colored pencils
• Map is due on Tuesday
Bellringer
• Describe the location of Mesopotamia. (Page
30)
• Vocabulary Quiz Wednesday
Items on Map
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Black Sea
- Zagros Mountains
Caucasus Mountains
- Euphrates River
Asia Minor
- Mediterranean Sea
Armenian Plateau
- Phoenicia
Taurus Mountains
- Syrian Desert
Mesopotamia
- Canaan
Tigris River
- Persian Gulf
Arabian Desert
- Red Sea
* Do NOT forget the KEY
Bellringer
• Read the first paragraph of Chapter 2-1 on page
29. (Do NOT write this part down)
• What are three facts about the first schools of
Sumer and scribes? (Write down)
• Put Bellringers in Tray.
• Put completed maps in the tray.
• Read Chapter 1 and fill in the notes.
Chapter 2: The Fertile Crescent
Section 1: Land Between Two Rivers
The Geographic Setting of the Fertile
Crescent
• The city of Sumer was located in the region of
Mesopotamia
• Mesopotamia had special attractions that drew
people to settle there
• Rich soil and life-giving rivers
• People became farmers and city builders
• Its central location within the ancient world drew
many traders
• Sumer became one of the most prosperous areas
of the ancient world
The Location of Mesopotamia
• Its name describes its location
• Word Mesopotamia comes from Greek words
that mean between the rivers
• Lies between the Tigris and Euphrates
• Part of the Fertile Crescent
• It is in the shape of a crescent moon
• One of the best places in Southwest Asia for
growing crops
Rivers of Life and Death
• Floods from the mountains bring fertile soil to
the area in the spring
• Floods left top soil; rivers supplied fish; strong
reeds used to make boats; and clay for
building
• Floods did not also happen at the same time
each year
• Sometimes the floods would sweep away
people, animals, and houses
The First Cities
• As farming became more successful,
communities began to have more food
• This lead to the building of cities
• Built many houses, temples, busy shops, royal
palace, and high walls to keep out invaders
• Cities were spread out and each city acted as a
state with its own special god or goddess, its
own government, and eventually its own king
• This is why they are called city-states
Tour of a Sumerian City
• Streets were very narrow that you had a hard
time traveling
• Houses faced away from crowded streets and
into courtyards
• During hot nights, people slept outdoors on
their homes’ flat roofs
• Oil lamps supplied light
• Clay pipes carried away liquid waste
Sumerian Religion
• Giant stone buildings in the center of town were called
ziggurat- main temples to the gods of the city
• Made of terraces one on top of the other, linked by
ramps and stairs
• They believed that the gods descended to the Earth
using the ziggurat as a ladder
• People worshipped many gods and goddesses known
as polytheism
• Sumerian myths- stories about gods that explain
people’s beliefs, warned that gods would punish people
who angered them
• Myths also promised rewards to people who served the
gods well
Section 1 Review
1. What geographic features helped civilization
develop in Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
2. How did Mesopotamia become a center of
trade?
Centrally located
Think-Pair-Share Activity
• Make a T-chart
• Left side has resources and geographic features
to help a city grow
• Right side has these resources lead to the growth
of cities
• Get at least three by yourself before working
with a partner
• After working with partners, we will share with
the class